Kindness of strangers makes festive season extra special
Georgie Ferris’ Christmas wishlist was different to others’ and most of it came to fruition well before December 25, thanks, in part, to people she’s never met. Alexia Santamaria reports.
Georgie Ferris only wanted joyous experiences for Christmas, to make memories for her family to treasure when she’s no longer here. Ferris, 24, who lives in Nelson, has Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS). The disease is not usually terminal, but people can die from the complications. She is under hospice care and while she’s hoping to see her 25th birthday in May, that’s not guaranteed.
‘‘I was diagnosed four years ago after a lot of hurtful misdiagnoses and personal trauma,’’ Ferris says. ‘‘Doctors refused to treat me for years, but when I was finally diagnosed with EDS everything seemed to change.
‘‘Unfortunately in my case the disease has caused my stomach and small and large intestines to fail. I’m unable to digest and absorb nutrients, and have been reliant on IV nutrition through a central line in my chest.’’
Things got more complicated when she developed mast cell activation syndrome (caused by EDS) which resulted in a severe allergic reaction to the IV nutrition that was keeping her alive.
After developing neutropenic septicaemia in June, her body wasn’t able to bounce back, and she was placed under hospice care.
EDS has put a lot of strain on her heart and lungs, which periodically leaves her dependent on oxygen. And it’s not unusual to have joint dislocations as the collagen in her body isn’t strong enough to hold her joints in place.
Once in hospice care, her medical team encouraged her to complete her bucket list while she still could: zip lining with her cousins in Christchurch, jet boating in Queenstown, meeting broadcaster Brodie Kane (and her mum, Jo, as a bonus). She even managed a skydive in Abel Tasman when she was well enough.
Thanks to her medical team, friends and family, Ferris has managed to live out most of her dreams.
‘‘I feel very lucky that, despite the circumstances we are faced with, I have been able to do so much. Many people have an unexpected death, but for me, my family and I have been given a time.
‘‘Even though I have been given a shorter life expectancy than others, I have the opportunity to have some fun and spend this time with those who I love. It’s been a tough journey but I’ve packed so much into these 24 years – and even more over the past few months.’’
One of the last things on her list was a trip to Auckland with her family and a couple of friends – to stay in a five-star hotel and tick a few of her final dreams off. And thanks to a chance meeting, her wish came true before she got too sick to travel by plane.
Ferris had followed Nelson caterer Relish & Rhubarb, run by Mel Turnbull, on Instagram for almost a year, drooling over her grazing platters.
A close family member ordered one for her as a gift but the platter was delivered to the wrong house.
‘‘Andwe’re really glad it was, otherwise Mel would have never decided to deliver a replacement one herself, and we would never have met her.’’
From Turnbull’s point of view, she couldn’t help but leave thinking about how she could help Ferris tick off those last bucket list items.
‘‘I so instantly felt at home with Georgie and her family, and I could see what kind of girl she was by some of the smaller things on her bucket list – to make ameal for the staff at Ronald McDonald House, to bake a cake with her aunty,’’ Turnbull says.
‘‘I couldn’t believe she was so positive, giving and upbeat despite everything she’s been through, and is still going through now.’’
Although Turnbull couldn’t fund the Auckland trip herself, as Covid had hit her business like many others, she knew she had a platform that could help.
‘‘I knew we could do auctions on our Instagram page, so I got Georgie to do a little video, and obviously her warmth shone through as so many local businesses got on board and donated things we could auction off.’’
After the first auction – out of nine – they already had enough for flights and accommodation for Ferris’ mum, sister, and three friends to go to Auckland and stay at the Hilton.
‘‘I couldn’t quite believe it – it happened so fast,’’ says Ferris. ‘‘The first auction was on the Monday and within two weeks we were in Auckland. It was incredible. Mel is such an amazing human being, and we can’t quite believe we didn’t know her less than two months ago. She feels like part of the family and like we’ve known her forever.’’
Turnbull and her family understand loss all too well, as her brother-in-law died from cancer nearly three years ago.
‘‘Our family knows how much making memories matters and it’s so great that Georgie is creating all these experiences that her family will have to look back on,’’ she says.
‘‘We tried to make all my sister’s husband’s wishes come true but that wasn’t entirely possible. It would have been his birthday the day I first met Georgie, so I was already quite emotional when I heard her story and knew Iwanted to do something to help if I could.’’
There are a few things left on Ferris’ wishlist – like meeting Jacinda Ardern, doing the Northern Explorer rail trip, seeing a real life zebra, swimming with dolphins and completing 13 random acts of kindness – but right now, she is content with how many she’s blazed through in just six months. An example of how to live life to the fullest.
‘‘I feel very lucky that, despite the circumstances we are faced with, I have been able to do so much.’’ Georgie Ferris